Coreopsis plant named ‘Baluptgonz’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Coreopsis  plant named ‘Baluptgonz’, characterized by its single-type, medium golden-yellow-colored inflorescences having a large sized, orange-red colored eye zone, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Coreopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Baluptgonz’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Coreopsis plant botanically known as Coreopsis hybrid and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Baluptgonz’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Santa Paula, Calif. during September 2012. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Coreopsis cultivars having large inflorescences, substantially continuous blooming throughout the summer, and mounded growth habits.

The new Coreopsis cultivar was the result of a self-pollination of the proprietary Coreopsis hybrid breeding selection coded 21378-04, not patented, characterized by its single-type, medium golden-yellow-colored inflorescences having an orange-red colored eye zone, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, semi-upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated self-pollination during April 2013 in a controlled environment in Santa Paula, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since April 2013 in Santa Paula, Calif. and Elburn, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Baluptgonz’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Coreopsis plant:

-   -   1. Single-type, medium golden-yellow-colored inflorescences         having a large sized, orange-red colored eye zone;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the parent primarily in having shorter peduncles, more uniformly shaped inflorescences, and a more upright growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Coreopsis cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is the Coreopsis cultivar BIG BANG ‘Cosmic Eye’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,601. However, in comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Cosmic Eye’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a different ray floret color         than plants of ‘Cosmic Eye’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar are taller and wider than plants         of ‘Cosmic Eye’; and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have larger diameter         inflorescences than plants of ‘Cosmic Eye’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Baluptgonz’. The plants were approximately 16-weeks old and grown in one-gallon containers in Elburn, Ill. Plants were given one pinch prior to transplant and one pinch two weeks after transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Baluptgonz’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an inflorescence of ‘Baluptgonz’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in June 2016 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe 16-week old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Rooted cuttings were transplanted into one-gallon containers and were given one pinch prior to transplant, and then one pinch two weeks after transplant. Seven weeks after transplant plants were grown outside in Elburn, Ill. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 65° F. to 70° F. (18.3° C. to 21.1° C.) during the day and approximately 55° F. to 60° F. (12.8° C. to 15.6° C.) during the night. No supplemental lighting was provided. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Coreopsis hybrid cultivar Baluptgonz. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female and male parent.—Proprietary Coreopsis hybrid             breeding selection coded 21378-04, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 10 to 12 days at             70° F. (21° C.).         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 5 to 6 weeks             at 70° F. (21° C.).         -   Root description.—Fibrous, thin, white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 10 to 12 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a one-gallon container.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Herbaceous perennial,             moderate growth vigor, compact-mounded growth habit.         -   Hardiness.—USDA zones 5 to 9.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 40.0 cm. Width: Approximately 48.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching improves basal             branching. Quantity of lateral branches per plant:             Approximately 6 main branches each having approximately 4             lateral branches.         -   Main branches.—Strength: Moderately strong. Length to base             of peduncle: Approximately 10.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately             5.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately 3.0 cm.             Texture: Densely pubescent. Color of young and mature stems:             144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 4. Type: Simple and trifoliate. Fragrance:             None. Arrangement: Opposite. Aspect: Petiole is acute angle             to stem; blade is somewhat perpendicular to stem. Shape of             leaf and leaflet: Elliptic. Margin of leaf and leaflet:             Entire. Apex of leaf and leaflet: Acute. Base of leaf and             leaflet: Attenuate, simple leaf sessile. Venation pattern:             Pinnate.         -   Simple leaf.—Length: Approximately 8.0 cm. Width:             Approximately 1.1 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Sparsely pubescent. Color of upper surface when first and             fully open: 137B with indistinguishable venation except for             midvein of 146B. Color of lower surface when first and fully             open: Closest to 138B with indistinguishable venation except             for midvein of 146B.         -   Mature trifoliate leaf.—Length of mature trifoliate leaf:             Approximately 9.5 cm. Width of mature trifoliate leaf:             Approximately 5.0 to 9.0 cm. Length of terminal leaflet:             Approximately 9.0 cm. Width of terminal leaflet:             Approximately 1.1 cm. Length of lateral leaflet:             Approximately 3.5 to 4.5 cm. Width of lateral leaflet:             Approximately 9.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Sparsely pubescent. Color of upper surface when first and             fully open: 137B with indistinguishable venation except for             midvein of 146B. Color of lower surface when first and fully             open: Closest to 138B with indistinguishable venation except             for midvein of 146B. Length of petiole of mature trifoliate             leaf: Approximately 3.0 cm. Diameter of petiole of mature             trifoliate leaf: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of petiole of             mature trifoliate leaf: Sparsely pubescent. Color of upper             and lower surfaces of petiole of mature trifoliate leaf:             146B. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Baluptgonz’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn.         -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the             plant.—Approximately 7 to 10 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Daisy-type composite,             actinomorphic. Persistent. Shape: Round. Aspect: Erect.             Arrangement: Terminal capitulum, positioned above the             foliage. Quantity per plant: Approximately 16. Diameter:             Approximately 6.5 cm. Depth: Approximately 1.5 cm.             Fragrance: Slightly acrid.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Erect. Length:             Approximately 16 cm to 18 cm. Diameter: Approximately             2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous, slightly glossy. Color: Between             144A and 144B.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 4 to 5 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open inflorescence.             Quantity per plant: Approximately 45.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Obovoid. Width:             Approximately 1.1 cm. Depth: Approximately 1.0 cm. Color:             151A and 152C.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 8.             Arrangement: In a single whorl, slightly imbricate. Aspect:             Flattened. Shape: Obovate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Incised.             Base: Rounded. Length: Approximately 2.8 cm. Width:             Approximately 2.2 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Glabrous, abaxially ribbed. Color of upper surface when             first open: Base and center of 187A, approximately upper             third of 14A. Color of lower surface when first open: 14B             with an underlay of 187A of approximately lower two-thirds.             Color of upper surface when fully open: Base and center of             187A randomly mixed with 183A giving the eye zone an overall             appearance of orange-red, approximately upper third of 14A.             Color of lower surface when fully open: 14B with an underlay             of 183B of approximately lower two-thirds.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 145.             Arrangement: Massed in center of inflorescence. Shape:             Tubular, approximately lower 90% fused. Margin: Entire.             Apex: Five acute tips. Base: Fused. Length: Approximately             1.0 cm. Diameter at tube opening: Approximately 2.0 mm.             Diameter at base: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of outer             surface: Glabrous. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous with             glandular pubescence on tips. Color of upper or inner             surface when first and fully open: Closest to 154D,             translucent with tips of 17A. Color of lower or outer             surface when fully open: Closest to 154D, translucent with             tips of 17B.         -   Disc.—Diameter: Approximately 1.5 cm. Depth: Approximately             8.0 mm.         -   Receptacle.—Shape: Dome. Height: Approximately 3.0 mm.             Diameter at base: Approximately 6.0 mm. Color: 145D.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence Approximately 16.             Arrangement: In two equally divided whorls. Base of inner             whorl fused into cup-shaped base surrounding receptacle,             non-imbricate, held close to ray florets.         -   Outer phyllaries.—Shape: Lanceolate. Margin: Entire,             ciliate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Length: Approximately             1.1 cm. Width: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of upper and             lower surfaces: Glabrous, glossy. Color of upper and lower             surfaces: 137B with N186A at tip.         -   Inner phyllaries.—Shape of free portion: Ovate. Margin:             Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused. Length: Approximately             9.0 mm. Width: Approximately 6.0 mm. Texture of upper and             lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper and lower surfaces:             152D with cup-shaped portion of closest to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Stamen quantity: 5. Stamen length: Approximately             6.0 mm. Filament length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Filament             color: 154D. Anther shape: Oblong, basifixed. Anther length:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Anther color: 154D, translucent,             tinted with 183A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color:             17A. Gynoecium: Present on disc florets only. Pistil             quantity: 1 per floret. Pistil length: Approximately 1.0 cm.             Stigma shape: 2-branched. Stigma length: Each branch             approximately 1.0 mm. Stigma color: 17B. Style length:             Approximately 7.0 mm. Style color: 154D. Ovary length:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Ovary color: 145D. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Coreopsis has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Coreopsis plant named ‘Baluptgonz’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 